Ronald KLEIN
Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Adjunct Professor of Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Medical Degree: New York University School of Medicine in 1969
Master of Public Health University of North Carolina School of Public Health 1972
Ophthalmology Residency: University of Miami Bascom Palmer 1976
Vitreo-Retinal Fellowship University of Wisconsin 1978
Board Certified in 1976

Biography and Research interests
The objectives of my research are to determine the prevalences, incidences and rates of progression of age-related ocular diseases which are the leading causes of legal blindness in the United States: macular degeneration and cataract, as well as diabetic retinopathy and visual impairment. These population-based data are used to provide estimates of medical care needs, counseling, rehabilitative services, projection of costs, and developing preventive strategies. In addition, the objectives of my research are to quantitate the association between incidence and progression of these ocular diseases and visual impairment and a number of potential risk factors such as blood pressure, cigarette smoking, other systemic and ocular diseases, socioeconomic factors, and genetic factors. A third objective of my work is to study the relationship of these diseases to the development of systemic complications (such as kidney disease, amputation, and death). In addition, our group is collaborating on ongoing studies of the epidemiology of age-related hearing loss (with Dr. Karen Cruickshanks). We are also closely collaborating with three other population-based studies which are using our protocols to detect and measure age-related eye diseases. Findings from some of these studies have been pooled to provide new insights regarding late age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion and retinal emboli.

Another facet of our research program is the development of methods to objectively quantitate ocular disease from fundus photographs. This has led to the development of a system to classify age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of legal blindness in older Americans. This and other systems have been used to measure progression of eye disease in clinical trials and epidemiological studies.

We have developed approaches to capture retinal photographs in a digitalized format and grade retinal vessel caliber using newly designed computer-assisted software. Using these new methods, data from large population-based studies have shown that retinal arteriolar narrowing and wider venules are markers of incident coronary heart disease and stroke mortality, incident hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cognitive changes, independent of other risk factors for these conditions.

Representative publications
1. Klein, R., Knudtson, M.D., Klein, B.E.K. (2008). Pulmonary disease and age-related macular degeneration - The Beaver Dam Eye Study. Archives of Ophthalmology, 126(6), 840-846.
2. Klein, R., Moss, S.E., Mcuer, S.M., Klein, B.E.K. (2008). The 15-year cumulative incidence of retinal vein occlusion - The beaver dam eye study. Archives of Ophthalmology, 126(4), 513-518.
3. Klein, R., Knudtson, M.D., Cruickshanks, K.J., & Klein, B.E.K. (2008). Further observations on the association between smoking and the long-term incidence and progression of age-related macular degeneration. Archives of Ophthalmology, 126(1), 115-121.
4. Klein, R., Knudtson, M.D., Lee, K.E., Gangnon, R., Klein, B.E.K. (2008). The Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy XXII the twenty-five-year progression of retinopathy in persons with Type 1 diabetes. Opthalmology, 115(11), 1859-1868.
5. Klein, R., Knudtson, M.D., Klein, B.E.K., Wong, T.Y., Cotch, M.F., Liu, K., Cheng, C.Y., Burke, G.L., Saad, M.F., Jacobs, D.R., Sharrett, A.R. (2008). Inflammation, complement factor H, and age-related macular degeneration- The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Opthalmology, 115(10), 1742-1749.
6. Klein, R., Klein, BEK, Lee, KE, Cruickshankds, KJ, Gangnon, RE. (2006). Changes in visual acuity in a population over a 15-year period. The Beaver Dam Eye Study. Am J Ophthalmol 2006;142(4):539-549.
7. Klein, R, Klein, BEK, Moss, SE, Wong, TY, Sharrett, AR. (2006). Retinal vascular caliber in persons with type 2 diabetes. The Wisconsin Epidemiological Study of Diabetic Retinopathy. XX. Ophthalmology 2006; 113(9):1488-98.
8. Klein, R., Klein, BEK. (2006). The epidemiology of eye disease: from glycemia to genetics. Invest Ophth Vis Sci 2006; 47(5):1747-1453.
9. Klein, R., Klein, B.E.K., Knudtson, M.D., Wong, T.Y. & Tsai, M. (2006). Are inflammatory factors related to retinal vessel caliber? The Beaver Dam Eye Study. Arch Opthalmol, 124(1), 87-94.
10. Klein, R., Zinman, B., Gardiner, R., Suissa, S., Donnelly, S.M., Sinaiko, A.R., Kramer, M.S., Goodyer, P., Moss, S.E., Strand, T. & Mauer, M. (2005). The relationship of diabetic retinopathy to preclinical diabetic glomerulopathy lesions in type 1 diabetic patients: the Renin-Angiotensin System Study. Diabetes, 54, 527-533.
11. Klein, R., Klein, B.E.K., Knudtson, M.D., Wong, T.Y., Shankar, A. & Tsai, M.Y. (2005). Systemic markers of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and age-related maculopathy. Am J Ophthalmol, 140, 35-44.
12. Klein, R., Klein, B.E.K. & Knudtson, M.D. (2005). Frailty and age-related macular degeneration. The Beaver Dam Eye Study. Am J Ophthalmol, 140, 129-131.
 
Academic Faculty